Addressing-machine.



E. H. FREY.

ADDRESSING MAGHINB. APPLICATION FILED 33.17, 1908. RENEWED no. 14, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910;

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E, H. FREY. ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 33.11, 1908. RENEWED mm. 14, 1909.

Patented Aug. 23,

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ADDRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1908. RENEWED DEC. 14, 1909.

967,896. Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST I-I. FREY, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ADDRESSING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

Application filed February 17, 1908, Serial No. 416,177. Renewed December 14, 1909. Serial No. 533,115.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST H. FREY, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Addressing-Machines, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide an automatically operating addressograph machine of substantially the same type as the machine, described and illustrated in my previous application for United States Letters Patent, bearing Serial Number 37 8,127 adapted for use with changeable record cards, and in which a horizontal bed-plate is employed upon which is pivoted a conveyer disk having card spaces arranged at regular intervals thereon, said conveyer disk having an intermittent motion, and in which a vertically movable pressure arm or lever is moved conjointly with the operation of the card conveyer, to form the impression by means of a copying ribbon.

This invention has the same general features of construction as the said previous machine but is designed to provide the advantages of greater efliciency and ease in operation, and greater practicability in use than the aforesaid machine, and comprises the pedal operated mechanism for moving the conveyer disk, and pressure arm, a rolling platen in lieu of a striking platen, and in the automatically acting mechanism operatively connected with a central source of power, for locking the conveyer disk at the momentofmaking the impression, for releasing the lower card in the stacked pile of cards contained in the card storage receptacle, for releasing the used card, for withdrawing it in a vertical position into the removable case, and for rolling up the copying ribbon.

The invention further comprises the combination of parts and specific'construction of details as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete machine; Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the ribbon winding mechanism; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the pedal lever and side view ofthe pressure arm; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the bed-plate; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the duplicating ratchet disk by means of which the intermittent movement of the conveyer is omitted during alternate strokes of the pressure arm and thus will cause two impressions of one card to be formed; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the central portion of the conveyer disk showing the central openings and ratchet openings; Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section of the central portion of the bed-plate, duplicating disk, and cam, and showing the central pin and operating pawls and ratcliets; and Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the bed-plate, conveyer disk, and removable card case showing the releasing and storage mechanism for the cards;

Fig. 10 is a detail section of bridge and pressure arm and also showing a section of the conveyer, and bed-plate and the wedges for raising a pile of stacked plates to release the lower card; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the bridge showing position of spring which throws the roller to the upper side of the track.

In these views, 1 is the bed-plate or table upon which the conveyer disk 2 rests.

In this machine a central boss 3 upon the bed-plate projects through a central opening 1 in the conveyer disk 2. The conveyer is also provided with card spaces shown as openings 5, corresponding in shape with the cards C, and having lateral extensions 6, adapted to receive the side extensions 7 of the cards. The bed-plate is also provided with a single opening similar in shape to the openings 5 in the conveyer disk, and adapted to register in turn therewith as the conveyer disk rotates upon the hub, 3.

Atone side of the bed-plate 1, are shown vertical slotted guides 9, in which the extended edges 7 of the cards rest, and form a storage receptacle for the cards arranged in a stacked position. The lower card of the pile rests in one of the card spaces, 5, and all the card spaces register in turn with the stack of cards as the conveyer disk rotates, and the cards are fed one at a time from the receptacle as they fall in turn into the card spaces. Arranged to overhang the path of each one of these openings, 5, is shown a roller platen 11 mounted upon a swinging pressure arm 12, which is pivotally secured at 13 to the upper end of a central pin 14:, which extends through both conveyer, disk and bed plate. The pressure is applied by means of a roller 12 on a pivoted rearward extension E, which roller travels over and under the transverse bridge T. A spring switch tongue S serves to raise the roller 12 to the level of the bridge T and the roller at this elevation exerts a pressure upon the pressure arm or lever 12. The degree of pressure exerted is controlled by means of the set screws V and the spring X shown in Fig. 10. When the roller has traversed the bridge it will drop to the lower level thus removing the pressure on the platen.

The advantage of applying the pressure by means of a roller is that the roller will follow any uneven surface of the type upon the card and thus produce a sharp impression. Another advantage is found in the freedom from noise with which the device can be worked.

An inking ribbon, 15, is stretched upon idlers 16, across the conveyer disk underneath the roller, and forms the impression of the card type upon the envelop or sheet of paper placed between the roller and ribbon.

The printing card is permitted to drop into the opening 0 as the conveyer rotates, and is caused to fall in an upright position upon the removable case 16 lying below the bed-plate 1, where the side extensions of the cards lie upon the side walls of the case. Automatic mechanism is also supplied for giving an intermittent rotary movement to the conveyer disk equal to the distance between the centers of the card spaces, and since the conveyer disk is shown to contain four card spaces, each movement represents one quarter of a full revolution thereof. Automatically acting mechanisms are also provided for releasing the bottom card in the storage receptacle, for releasing the used card and for withdrawing it into the card case below the bed-plate, for securing and releasing the conveyer disks, and for operating the ribbon rolling device, and these de vices operate as follows: An intermittent movement is provided for the conveyer disk in the following manner: Upon the conveyer disk lies a smaller upper disk or duplicating plate 17, provided with alternately arranged ratchet openings 18 and false ratchets 19, arranged to register in turn with ratchet openings .2 in the conveyer disk below. Mounted upon an arm 21, upon the central pin 14 is shown a pawl 22 which is pivoted at 23 so as to drop into the ratchet openings 18 and z in conveyer disk and upper disk, and to move both parts together as the pin revolves. The pin is revolved by ings in the u per and lower disks.

engages with a notch 32 in the upper disk 17, and hence brings back the disk on the return stroke of the pawl 22.

The object of the upper disk 17 above the conveyer disk is to interrupt the movement of the conveyer by interposing a false ratchet to the operating pawl 22 one in every other stroke of the pedal lever, so that every other movement of the conveyer disk will be interrupted, and the pressure lever and platen will engage with the same card twice in succession and therefore print two impressions of one card before the next is brought thereunder in rotation of the conveyer disk. To accomplish this result a second pivoted pawl 28 is mounted in the path of the conveyer disk ratchet openings, upon a fixed plate 29 secured to the. central boss 3 upon the bed-plate, and so located as to engage with a false ratchet when the operating pawl 22 is engaging the ratchet open- This pawl 28 is ralsed out of contact with the ratchet openings and false ratchets when it is desired to operate the pawl 22 and to feed the conveyer disk continuously with an intermittent movement, but when it is desired to interrupt the movement so as to take a duplicate impression of each card in turn the pawl 28 is lowered, and when the pawl 22 has advanced one stroke, the return of the upper disk 17 to its original position is pre vented by the pawl 28 which now will engage one of the false ratchets and hold the disk in such a position that the other false ratchet will be directly underneath the operating pawl 22, and prevent the pawl 22 from engaging with the ratchet opening in the conveyer disk underneath. The operating pawl 22 will then by means of the false ratchet move only the duplicating upper disk forward, and upon its return stroke will engage with one of the ratchet openings and hence at that time will also engage with one of the ratchet openings in the conveyer disk, below and upon its next forward movement will move the conveyer disk forward. Upon the crank disk 26, are formed cam pro ections 35 and 36, by means of which all the remaining automatic movements of the machine are obtained. The bottom card in a stacked pile of cards lying in the card receptacle is released by raising the pile off from it by means of wedge shaped arms 37 and 38, secured to a cross-bar 39 and inserted in the stack between the stack and the bottom card. A central bar 40 extends radially toward the center of the bed-plate and is operated to raise the pile of cards by means of the cam 35, upon the disk 26, secured to the central pin 14. The wedges 37 and 38 are attached to arm 40 by means of cross bar 39 and are inserted under the cards to lift them. A return spring 41 is employed to force the wedges underneath the pile of cards when the cam releases the bar 40, or the cam can be constructed to do all this work if desired.

The locking device for the conveyer disk is intermittent in its action and operates to release the conveyer just as the pressure lever begins to turn, and comprises a radial arm 43 having a catch 44 at its outer extremity adapted to engage a notch 45 in the conveyer disk. This arm 43 is operated by the cam 36.

The means for releasing the used card after it has reached the card opening in the bed-plate and for causing it to assume a vertical position in the card case below, with extended edges resting upon the walls thereof, are as follows: A transverse movable bar 50 underneath the conveyer disk and bed plate receives the outer edge of the card, and the inner edge rests upon a shoulder 51 upon thebed-plate The openings in the conveyer disk and bed-plate are provided with side extensions 6 and 52 adapted to receive the side; extensions 7 of the cards, C. The transverse bar 5'0 is moved outwardly by means of the cam 36 at the beginning of the stroke to release the outward endof the card C, and this end will fall first since the inner edge rests upon the shoulder 51. As the card assumes averti'cal position the inner edge; will' slide off from the shoulder 51, and the side extensions 7 will fall through guides 54 upon the side portions of a frame 55, to which the bar 50 is attached. The extensions 7 will then fall upon the side walls of the cardcase below, and suspend the cards in a vertical position, and each card is withdrawn into the case in its turn to make ready for another card bv means of the elongated extremities 56 of the guides 54, which engage with each card and pull it back into the case, when the frame is withdrawn.

The outward movement of' the frame 55 is effected by the cam 36 engaging the frame and a return spring 57 withdraws the frame, orthe camcan be constructed to perform both movements. The ribbon coiling mechanism is also simple and is effected also by the cam 35', andv consists of the rock arm or lever 60-, pivoted in the bed-plate at 61, and projecting at 62. This arm moves a reciprocating, block 63, which operates a pawl arm 64, upon which are shown two pawls and 66,. adapted to engage alternately with the ratchets 67 and 68 upon two spools 69 and 70-, upon which the ribbon is wound. As soon as one spool is full the ribbon will engage one of the rollers .71 and 72 and throw up that side of the pawl arm 64, and so bring the other pawl into contact with the other ratchet, and thus reverse the movement of the ribbon. A check pawl 73 is turned to engage with one or the other of the ratchets by means of the arm 74, and

link 75, pivoted at 76, upon the pawl arm 64.

I claim-- 1. In an addressing machine, in combination with a rotatable card conveyer, adapted to receive printing cards thereon, an ink ing ribbon adapted to pass over said cards in succession as said conveyer is rotated, at pressure arm adapted to register successively with said cards, automatically operated mechanism for feeding said ribbon underneath said pressure arm, a lever for operating said ribbon feeding mechanism and a cam for operating said lever.

2. In an addressing machine adapted for use with changeable cards, the combination with a horizontal bed-plate having a card receiving opening, of a card conveyer disk rotatably mounted thereon and provided with card receiving openings and having an intermittent movement, a card receptacle for stacked cards mounted over said conveyer in the path of said openings, a pressure arm pivoted on said bed plate and a platen thereon adapted to register with each conveyer opening in turn, a locking device for the conveyer disk, adapted to operate while liberating device for the card receptacle,

and a card liberating device for the used card, and automatically acting mechanism for intermittently rotating the conveyer, for operating the pressure lever, and for operating the said locking and card liberating device.

3. In an addressing machine employing changeable cards the combination, with a horizontal bed-plate, provided with a card receiving opening and a rotatable conveyer disk thereon provided with card spaces, and having an intermittent movement, of a card receptacle mounted upon said bed-plate in the path of said card spaces, a locking device for said conveyer adapted to operate between the movements of the conveyer,. a device for giving the conveyer disk an intermittent movement, a pressure lever'and a platen adapted to register in turn with said card spaces, and automatic mechanism for releasing a card in the receptacle, for releasing the saidlocking device and for releasing the used cards to fall into said opening in the bed-plate, and a main operating lever, said automatic mechanism receiving its action from said main operated lever.

4. In an addressing machine or analogous printing machine adapted to employ changeable cards, a horizontal bed-plate, a card conveyer disk pivotally mounted thereon, and provided with card spaces at regular intervals, and with ratchet openings, a pressure lever pivoted on said bed-plate and adapted to register in turn with said card spaces, and automatic mechanism for giving an intermittent rotary' movement to said conveyer disk and an interrupted intermittent movement to said conveyer disk, substantially as described.

5. In an addressing machine adapted to employ changeable cards, a horizontal bedplate, having a card receiving opening, a card conveyer disk thereon provided with card spaces arranged at regular intervals therein, and having an intermittent motion, and having ratchet openings corresponding in number with the number of card spaces, a ratchet device adapted to give an intermittent movement to the said conveyer disk, a locking device for the said disk, a card receptacle mounted on said bed-plate and adapted to register with said card spaces in turn, and adapted to contain a pile of cards in the stacked position, a releasing device for the lower card, a releasing device for the used card, a central pin and a ratchet device thereon, adapted to intermittently rotate said conveyer disk, a cam disk on said pin and cams adapted to operate at predetermined intervals, said locking device and said card releasing devices, and a main operating lever, operatively connected with said cam disk, for intermittently rotating said pin and disk, substantially as described.

6. In an addressing machjine, provided with a bed-plate and with a card conveyer disk rotatably mounted thereon, said conveyer disk being also provided with a series of ratchet openings, the combination therewith of a duplicating disk, located above said conveyer disk, and provided with a series of alternating ratchet openings, and false ratchets, a central pin passing through said conveyer and duplicating disks, an operating pawl secured to said nin, adapted to engage with the ratchets in both disks and with said false ratchets in turn, a pawl pivoted upon a stationary part of the bedplate and adapted to engage with said ratchet openings and false ratchets alternately with said operating pawl, and a retaining device for said duplicating disk, said retaining device adapted to move in unison with said operating pawl, said pawl attached to a stationary part being adapted to engage with a false ratchet and interrupt the return of said duplicating disk in alternate strokes.

7 In an addressing machine, provided with a bed-plate, and with a card conveyer disk having a series of card spaces therein, in combination therewith, a device for rotating said conveyer disk, a receptacle at one side of said disk registering with said openings in turn, mechanism adapted to raise a stack of cards off from the bottom card to release the same, a locking device for the conveyer disk, a card case, a releasing device for the used card, adapted to discharge said card into said card case in a vertical position, and a device for withdrawing said card into said case to make room for the succeeding card, a centrally operating cam disk and automatically acting mechanism operatively connectin said cam disk with said card releasing and storing devices, and with said locking device, and means for giving an intermittent movement to said cam disk. 7

8. In an addressing machine rovided with a bed plate having a rotata le card conveyer disk therein, said conveyer disk being provided with a series of card spaces, in combination therewith, a vertical card receptacle, adapted to retain a stack of cards, a wedge shaped releasing device, adapted for insertion into the side of said stack be tween said stack and the bottom card, to release the same, and automatic mechanism for operating in an intermittent manner said wedge shaped releasing devices.

9. The combination with a bed-plate and a rotatable card conveyer havin a series of card spaces therein, of a car receptacle mounted upon said bed-plate, and adapted to contain a stack of cards, registering in turn with said card spaces and wedge shaped arms, adapted for insertion into said stack above the bottom card to release the same, an arm connectin with said wedge shaped arms, and a cam adapted to engage said arm.

10. In an addressing machine, adapted for use with changeable cards, said cards having lateral extensions on their edges, in combination, a bed-plate, a rotatable card conveyer disk thereon, the said card conveyer pro vided with a series of card shaped openings, and the said bed-plate provided with a single card receiving opening, said openin s having lateral extensions on each inner si e, of a card case underneath said opening in said bed-plate, a bar adapted to temporarily retain the outer edge of the card, automatic means for moving said bar to release the outer edge of said card to permit the card to assume the vertical position, a frame to which said bar is secured, guides in said frame adapted to receive the extended ed es of said cards, said edges adapted to tall therethrough upon the side walls of said case, and projecting lower extremities to said uides, adapted to engage said extended e ges of said cards, and automatically acting mechanism for operating said bar and frame, to release said cards, and to withdraw them in turn into said card case.

11. In an addressing machine, the combination with a bed-plate and a-card conveyer disk mounted thereon and provided with card receiving spaces, of a horizontally swinging pressure lever, centrally pivoted thereon, a roller platen in said lever adapted to register with said openings in turn, means for giving an intermittent movement to con veyer disk and pressure lever, a vertical pivot for said lever, a rear extension for said lever, an adjustable roller thereon, a bridge for making upper and lower track surfaces for said roller, and a controlling or switching spring for said bridge.

12. In an addressing machine, employing printing cards, the combination With a bedplate, and a card conveyer disk rotatably mounted thereon, said conveyer provided With card receiving openings, of a horizontally swinging and vertically movable lever mounted in said bed-plate, a roller platen pivoted in said lever, automatic mechanism for giving a horizontal intermittent movement to said lever and conveyer disk, and an automatically acting device for depressing the said lever and platen to make the 15 ERNEST H. FREY.

In the presence of- WM. M. MONROE, GEO. S. COLE. 

